New Driver

Exactly! You could have told us you have been holding onto a CDL for 1 year or 25 years....and the answer would be the same as RoadRooster just gave.
Question would be....if you were interested enough in trucking 5 years ago to get a CDL; why didn't you start your career 5 years ago? Now it sucks to inform you, that your CDL and/or training mean absolutely nothing to any company.
Even if those of us that have been driving commercial vehicles for decades took a 3 year break, the industry would treat it as no experience at all. Don't seem fair...but it is the way they operate.

 

Since you are around Dallas, you can get with one of the oilfield produced water hauling companies in the area, run the back roads, well locations, disposal well locations, etc, pay is per hour, and not bad for someone wanting driving experience. All the hours you can stand for around 16-18 per. After a while doing that, you should have your sights set on the company you want to get on with.

 

I agree with Makeajump. I sat on my CDL for a year and went to work for an environmental outfit hauling oil-based mud, salt water, and oxygenated dirt. The supervisor just wanted to make sure I could keep the trailer between the lines. After that job I sat on my CDL for another 7 years and went to work hauling rock. Bottom line, you're going to have to search for these jobs. They don't just jump out at you like when we were in truck driving school. Also, it's good to ask the employers if you can drive around the yard and knock the rust off.

 

If you want local work check with coke or Pepsi or Fritos lay to start hard work unloading trailers but might be easier to get a foot in the door there

 

I made $.36 cpm with 25 yrs. experience and did 5 years making that. But, still made $65K per year. Even $.50 cpm isn't much if there's no accessorial pays and low miles. For example, Carolina Cargo pays $.22 cpm split for teams, but still each driver makes over $800.00 per week each due to accessorial pays. That's very low pay for a truck driver, but it proves my point that cpm is only part of the equation.
Many drivers make more than $65K, but I was happy with it.

 

The company I work for now pays me 40 cpm. The company I drove for before this company paid me
50 cpm. I am much happier with my present employer now. I take home more money now at 40 cpm
then I did getting paid 50 cpm with the other company. A higher pay scale does not always mean more
money in your pocket. The companies with the higher pay scales usually like to micro manage their
drivers. They also usually haul freight into areas that I prefer to avoid. If your satisfied with where you
are working that's the most important thing. If you hate the company you drive for this line of work can
make your life miserable. If you drive a truck long enough you will find this isn't just a job to earn a living.
It becomes your life. Either you will love it, or you will hate it.

 

What company were you originally working for when you were earning 50 cents per mile?
What company are you now working for currently earning 40 cents per mile?

God bless every American and their families! God bless the U.S.A.!